Main Entry:

har·em

Pronunciation:

\ˈher-əm\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

ultimately from Arabic ḥarīm, literally, something forbidden & ḥaram, literally, sanctuary

Date:

1623

1 a: a usually secluded house or part of a house allotted to women in a Muslim household b: the wives, concubines, female relatives, and servants occupying a harem2: a group of women associated with one man3: a group of females associated with one male —used of polygamous animals